Drinking Vessels

ABSTRACT

A kit comprising a beverage cup ( 30 ), an infusible material used in the preparation of the beverage in a closed compartment within the cup ( 30 ) and a drink-through lid ( 1 ) for the beverage cup ( 30 ) the lid ( 1 ) having a filter to filter out the infusible material from the beverage. The drink-through lid ( 1 ) comprising a lid body ( 2 ) with a drink-through aperture ( 5 ) defined in the lid body through which a beverage ( 40 ) can exit the lid ( 1  (while drinking when the lid ( 1 ) is on the beverage cup ( 30 ). The drink-through aperture ( 5 ) comprises an area of the lid ( 1 ) in which there is defined at least  20  apertures, the apertures being large enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material ( 50 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to drinking vessels and in particulardrinking vessels which have a cup and a drink-through lid on the cup. Ofparticular interest are disposable cups. Disposable cups are often givenout with beverage sales for example from shops, on airlines, in publicarenas such as theatres, cinemas, stadiums etc. The beverage is oftentea or coffee. Typically the cup is designed as a take-away disposablecup the lid for preventing spillage of the liquid whilst being carried.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Many types of drinking vessel have existed. These include vesselsdesigned for various purposes including those having spouts or nozzleson a lid and through which the liquid to be drank must be sucked. Sucharrangements are typically used on baby cups in particular to avoidspillage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,898 describes a drink-through lid for a beverage cupwhich has a mechanism to suspend a tea bag by its drawstring out ofcontact with liquid in the container. A similar system is described inU.S. Pa. No. 7,806,044.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,450 discloses a drink-through lid for a beverage cupthat has a pocket in which coffee grinds are placed. Above the pocket isan upper filter formed by a mesh, and below it is a lower filter formedby paper. Hot water is poured in through the top of the lid and thus theupper mesh filter through the coffee and then filters through the lowerfilter and into the container. The arrangement allows coffee to beinfused into the hot water but prevents particulate matter from enteringthe cup as it is retained in the lid.

US Patent Publication No. 2008/0035652 provides a disposabledrink-through lid with a filter screen. The filter is attached to theunderside of the lid and extends across the entire area of the undersideof the lid thus filtering all liquid before it reaches a relativelylarge drinking aperture on the lid.

Typically with such lids, it is common for a user to spill a beveragewhile drinking. It is thus desirable to provide a lid which reduces thetendency of a user to spill a beverage while drinking.

Notwithstanding the prior art, it is desirable to provide a beveragecontainer which enables the preparation of drinks from infusiblematerials within the container as well as an alternative lid for thecontainer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention provides a kit comprising:

-   -   (a) a beverage cup;    -   (b) an infusible material used in the preparation of the        beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;    -   (c) and a drink-through lid for the beverage cup the lid having        a filter to filter out the infusible material from the beverage.

This provides a beverage of freshly made quality but in a disposablecup.

The closed compartment may be closed with an airtight peel-off membersuch as a tear-off cover such as a foil.

The compartment may be a tub inserted into the cup and optionally isdimensioned to sit in the bottom of the cup. The tub desirably plugsinto the bottom of the cup and has a tub mouth the periphery of whichruns about and abuts the inside wall of the cup.

The drink-through lid may comprise:

-   -   a lid body;    -   a drink-through aperture defined in the lid body through which a        beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a        beverage cup; and    -   characterised in that the drink-through aperture comprises an        area of the lid in which there is defined at least 20 apertures,        the apertures being large enough to allow a beverage to be drank        through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate        material from the beverage cup.

The advantage of the present invention is that a filter is associatedwith the drink-through aperture for filtering the beverage before it isdrank. This means that drinks prepared from insoluble matter, such astea leaves, coffee grinds, etc can be made within the beverage cup.There is then no need to worry about particular matter ending up in themouth of a person using the beverage cup to drink. It means that freshlyprepared beverages are possible, particularly freshly prepared coffee.This obviates the necessity to use items such as teabags, or coffeepowder formed by dehydrating coffee (sometimes referred to as “instantcoffee”) solution. The filter is integrally formed as part of the lid.No additional components need to be attached to the lid. Desirably thelid is made of a plastics material. For example a thermoforming processcan be utilised. The apertures may be formed as the lid is formed, or insubsequent aperture-forming step such as a punching step.

The apertures are of sufficient size and distribution so that a persondrinking from the cup will not need to apply any substantial suctionpressure to the cup to bring a beverage through the lid and into theirmouth. The lid is thus constructed so that it is one through which auser can drink a beverage whilst the lid filters the beverage.

Desirably at least 40, preferably at least 50 apertures are formed. Thegreater the number of apertures the more liquid can be imbibed at anygiven time.

Desirably the drink-through aperture forms part of a mouthpiece throughwhich a user drinks the beverage.

Suitably the area of the lid in which the apertures are providedcomprises a visual indicator to a user as to where to place their mouth.This is desirably a recessed area so that the apertures are thenprovided in the recessed area. It is desirable that the drink-throughaperture comprises a border frame about the recessed area. Again thishighlights the drink-through aperture.

The border frame may comprise apertures which also filter the beverageand will be large enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lidwhilst obstructing passage of a filtrate material from the beveragecontainer.

The filtrate may be any insoluble material which is a component in theformation of a beverage, for example tea leaves. In such a case the lidis arranged to filter out tea leaf residue from loose tea leaves withinthe beverage cup. Fresh tea leaves can thus be used and they can be usedloose—that is they are free to circulate within the beverage cup. Thereis no requirement for any other strainer, filter or trap of any sort forthe tea leaves.

Where the filtrate is coffee grinds the lid is arranged to filter outcoffee residue from ground coffee beans within the beverage cup. Againthere is no requirement for any other means of capturing the particulatematerial.

The invention also relates to a lid compriseing:

-   -   a lid body;    -   a beverage aperture defined on the lid body through which a        beverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a        beverage cup; and    -   a drinking rim on the beverage aperture which is raised relative        to the beverage aperture,    -   and characterised in that the lid is arranged so that, in use        for drinking, the beverage exits through the beverage aperture        and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user        can see the beverage after it has exited the beverage aperture        and before it reaches the rim when the cup is held in a drinking        position.

Such an arrangement is very desirable because it dramatically reducesthe tendency of a user to spill the beverage. In particular, because theuser can see the beverage as it flows out of the lid, they are lesslikely to spill it. In particular with conventional lids, the usercannot typically see the liquid before it is drank. This means the useris more likely to miss some of the liquid and/or pour too much liquidout at one time, leading to spillage.

Desirably the beverage aperture is formed in an area of the lid that isa lower position relative to an outer rim of the lid. Desirably a wallportion of the drinking rim extends downwards to a lower positionrelative to an outer rim of the lid. The lower position can be aposition proximate the beverage aperture and/or the aperture can extendinto the wall portion. If the beverage aperture comprises a series ofapertures one or more of those apertures can be formed in the wallportion.

The wall portion forms a fluid bed along which, in use for drinking, thebeverage runs toward an upper part of the drinking rim.

Desirably the lid further comprises a filter associated with thebeverage aperture for filtering the beverage before it is drank. Thismeans that the lid can be used where there are insoluble particles inliquid, for example tea leaves or coffee grinds.

Desirably both aspects of the invention may be combined in anembodiment. This means that within the kit of the invention the lid maybe arranged so that, in use for drinking, the beverage exits through thebeverage aperture and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim sothat the user can see the beverage after it has exited the beverageaperture and before it reaches the rim (when the cup is held in adrinking position, the lid is on the cup and there is a beverage in thecup) and the lid additionally has drink-through aperture defined in thelid body through which a beverage can exit the lid for drinking when thelid is on a beverage cup; and characterised in that the drink-throughaperture comprises an area of the lid in which there is defined at least20 apertures, the apertures being large enough to allow a beverage to bedrank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate materialfrom the beverage.

A skilled person will appreciate the permutations of number, shape, sizeand distribution of apertures that will fulfil the function of theapertures of the present invention. Apertures do not need to be uniformin size, shape or distribution. For example apertures may be providedthat are from 50 to 300 microns in diameter, for example 75 to 275microns in the diameter, such as 100 to 250 microns in diameter. Interms of number will typically be at least 50, for example at least 100,such as at least 150, typically about 200 apertures in the lid. Thedistance between adjacent apertures may be at least 2 microns, forexample at least 6 microns and typically 10 microns. Where the aperturesused are not uniform in size/shape and/or the distance between adjacentapertures is not uniform then these values can represent average valuesfor the apertures and/or distance. The filter may be comprised of amaterial in which the intermolecular forces between the fluid and theapertures is sufficient to allow a fluid to pass through the apertureswhen the cup is held in a drinking position. For example, the materialmay be a nylon plastics material.

The present invention includes the assembly formed when a kit of thepresent invention is assembled. The invention also provides a beveragecup assembly comprising the assembled kit of the invention.

As above the beverage cup comprises a sealed compartment in which amaterial used in the preparation of the beverage is held and which isopened for use of the material during preparation of the beverage. Thiskeeps the contents of the cup fresh until use. The material used in thepreparation of a beverage may be any material that leaves behind a solidresidue that becomes the filtrate for the cup. For example the filtratemay be tea leaf or ground coffee.

The invention also relates to a method for dispensation of a beveragecomprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) providing a beverage cup;    -   (b) providing an infusible material used in the preparation of        the beverage in a closed compartment within the cup;    -   (c) opening the closed compartment;    -   (d) infusing the material with a liquid to form the beverage;        and    -   (e) providing a drink-through lid on the beverage cup, the lid        having a filter to filter out the infusible material from the        beverage.

In the method the cup and lid may take the form of a kit of theinvention.

In the method, the lid may incorporate a filter to from a filtering lidas described above.

The beverage cup and the lid will typically together form a beverage cupassembly of the present invention.

The present invention thus provides a kit comprising a beverage cup,particularly of the type that may be disposed of, which can bepre-prepared and allows for the preparation of any “fresh” beverage eventhough the cup and lid may be formed quite some time before they areeventually used. The invention thus provides an assembly comprising alid of the invention, a beverage cup to which lid fits, and sealedwithin the cup a solid beverage material, such as tea leaves or coffeegrinds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from above of a drink-through lid of a kitof the present invention comprising a drink-through aperture;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the drink-through lid of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the lid of FIG. 1 along the sectionA-A;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective partial view of the lid of FIG. 1showing apertures forming the drink-through aperture of the lid;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing analternative lid structure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the lid of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective partial view of an alternativearrangement of the drink-through aperture;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembled kit comprising a cup and alid mated together;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 8 showing abeverage inside the cup;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 but showing a beverage beingdrank from the cup by a user;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view from above of an alternative drink-throughlid of the present invention comprising a drink-through aperture;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from below of the lid of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of an alternative drink-through lid ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a view of the lid of the FIGS. 10 to 12 in use on a cap andthe beverage being drank from the cup by a user.

Note that the drawings are schematic in nature and may not be to exactscale. For example the apertures 7 shown are fewer and larger for thepurposes of illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a drink-through lid 1 for a beverage cup 30 (seeFIGS. 8 and 9). The lid 1 has a lid body 2. The beverage cup 30 and thelid 1 form a kit of the invention. The lid body 2 is a single piece ofplastic which has been formed into the lid shape by a suitable formingprocess such as a thermoforming process. A drink-through aperture 5 isdefined in the lid body 2 through which a beverage 40 (see FIG. 9) canexit the lid 1 for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup 30.

The drink-through aperture 5 comprises an area 6 on the lid in whichthere is defined many apertures 7 for example at least 20 apertures,such as at least 30 apertures, including at least 40 and also more than50 apertures 7. Each of the apertures 7 is large enough to allow abeverage 40 to be drank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of afiltrate material 50 (which is in the beverage and thus is removed fromthe beverage before the beverage is drank). The filtrate material 50 istypically solid insoluble matter and often times is material which hasbeen subjected to infusion with hot water such as ground coffee or tealeaves.

The lid comprises a peripheral rim or skirt 9 which is adapted to be asealing push-fit onto the top of a beverage cup 30 to form an assemblyas shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The lid 1 also has formed therein a drinking rim 10. The drinking rim 10is raised relative to the lid body and comprises opposing upstandingwalls, namely outer wall 11, and inner wall 13 which are joined by anupper joining wall 12. As with all other features of the lid, thedrinking rim 10 is integrally formed with the lid 1.

A further crescent-shaped raised area 16 is also formed in the lid 1. Abreather hole 20 is provided in the lid 1 within the raised area 16. Acrescent-shaped wall 17 joins the raised area 16 and a recessed area 18which is formed between the raised area 16 and the drinking rim 10.

The lid 1 further comprises an additional elongate chute 35 whichextends through the lid 1 and allows addition of materials to thebeverage, such as milk, sweetener such as sugar, etc. The chute 35 isspaced apart from the apertures 7 and extends sufficiently far away fromthe lid (in the direction of the cup) so that the beverage will not exitthe chute in normal drinking positions of the cup. The chute 35 may beclosed off, for example with a removable closure such as seal. As thechute 35 may not be open it is desirable to provide the breather hole20. In the event it is opened it will be appreciated that the chute 35may function as a breather aperture.

To drink a beverage through the lid 1 a user places their lips on thelid so that their mouth is about the area 6 and imbibes liquid throughthe apertures 7 thereof. Even if there is insoluble particulate material50 in the beverage it will be retained as filtrate inside the cup 30 byvirtue of the filtering effect of the apertures 7.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of beverage and air as a drink is taken. Arrows 22show how the beverage exits the lid through apertures 7. Arrow 23 showsair being sucked in by the action of the exiting beverage.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the apertures 7 defined in the lid 1.Any suitable array of apertures may be employed and there is norequirement for the array or apertures to have any particular geometry.The apertures need not all be of the same size or shape.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but showing analternative lid structure and in particular a different drink-throughaperture structure. In FIG. 5 the lid 1 has integrally formed therein anarea 6 which is recessed in the form of an inverted nozzle 25. Definedin sidewalls 26 of nozzle 25 are the apertures 7. Arrows 22 again showthe typical outflow of beverage through the drink-through aperturestructure. Otherwise the lid 1 is similar in construction to that shownin earlier figures. FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view of thelid of FIG. 5 in particular an enlarged sectional view of the invertednozzle 25.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective partial view of an alternativearrangement of the drink-through aperture and in particular an invertednozzle 25 of a different shape and size and having apertures 7 definedtherein.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising a cup 30 and alid 1 of the invention mated together. FIG. 9 is a side sectional viewof the assembly of FIG. 8 showing a beverage 40 inside the cup 30. Inthe embodiment the cup 30 further comprises a compartment 60 in which amaterial 50 such as coffee grinds or tea leaves is held. Typically thecompartment 60 is sealed closed, for example using a removable coversuch as a tear-off foil. In use the foil is torn away to reveal thematerial 50. The compartment is typically formed by a tub which isinserted into the bottom of the cup. Hot water is added to form thebeverage 40 which is a combination of the hot water and componentsextracted from the material 50 and indeed any additional componentsadded. The drink is thus a freshly prepared one and will have thequality of a freshly prepared tea or coffee. However as the material 50is now loose and is free to move within the cup (as indicated by arrows51) and in particular free to move toward a drinking aperture in the lid1 the only thing that prevents the solid residue from reaching the mouthof a drinker is the filtering action of the apertures 7. This is bestseen from FIG. 10 which shows a view similar to that of FIG. 9 butadditionally showing the beverage 40 being imbibed (see arrows 71) fromthe cup by a user 70. Material 50 now spread through the beverage isprevented from reaching the mouth of the user 70.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 are respectively a perspective view from above andbelow of an alternative drink-through lid of the present inventioncomprising a drink-through aperture while FIG. 13 is a side sectionalview thereof. The lid 1 is of similar construction to the earlierembodiment but with some differences which are discussed here. It showsa lid 1 for a beverage cup comprising a lid body 2 and a beverageaperture 5 defined on the lid body 1 through which a beverage 40 canexit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup 30 as bestseen in FIG. 14 which shows a view similar to that of FIG. 10 but withthe lid 1 of the type shown in FIGS. 11-13. The lid 1 has a drinking rim10 on the lid which is raised relative to the beverage aperture 5. Inthe embodiment the rim 10 forms a c-shaped lip which catches thebeverage after it has exited the lid 1. The lid 1 is arranged so that,in use for drinking, the beverage 40 exits through the beverage aperture5 and flows along the lid toward the drinking rim so that the user cansee the beverage after it has exited the beverage aperture and before itreaches the rim when the cup is held in a drinking position. The levelof the beverage 40 which has exited the cup 30 is labelled 73 in FIG. 14for ease of reference. Such an arrangement is very desirable because itdramatically reduces the tendency of a user to spill the beverage. Inparticular, because the user 70 can see the beverage 40 and inparticular the beverage level 73, as it flows out of the lid 1, they areless likely to spill it.

A wall portion, and in particular an inner wall 13 of the drinking rim10 extends downwards toward a lower position 45 relative to the outerrim 9 of the lid. The wall portion 13 forms an inner wall of the lipformation of the drinking rim 10 and thus forms a fluid bed or run alongwhich, in use for drinking, the beverage runs toward an upper part 12 ofthe drinking rim as indicated by arrows 46 (see FIG. 14). In thisembodiment the lower position 45 happens to be a position proximate thebeverage aperture 5. This means the level or “water line” 73 of thebeverage can be seen on wall portion 13 even if a user has their lipsabout the drinking rim 10.

Desirably, and as shown in the embodiment, the beverage aperture isformed in an area of the lid 1 that is at a lower position 45 relativeto an outer rim 9 of the lid. This increases the area available forforming the fluid bed for the liquid and thus makes liquid flow visuallymore prominent to a user.

The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” whenused herein with reference to the present invention are used to specifythe presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but donot preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub-combination.

1. A drink-through lid for a beverage cup comprising: a. a lid body; andb. a drink-through aperture defined in the lid body through which abeverage can exit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beveragecup; and wherein the drink-through aperture comprises an area of the lidin which there is defined at least 20 apertures, the apertures beinglarge enough to allow a beverage to be drank through the lid whilstobstructing passage of a filtrate material.
 2. A lid according to claim1, wherein there are at least 40 apertures defined in the lid.
 3. A lidaccording to claim 1, wherein the area of the lid in which the aperturesare provided comprises a recessed area.
 4. A lid according to claim 3,wherein the drink-through aperture comprises a border frame about therecessed area.
 5. A lid according to claim 4, wherein the border framecomprises apertures which are large enough to allow a beverage to bedrank through the lid whilst obstructing passage of a filtrate materialfrom the beverage.
 6. A lid according to claim 1, wherein the filtrateis tea leaves and the lid is arranged to filter out tea leaf residuefrom loose tea leaves within the beverage cup.
 7. A lid according toclaim 1, wherein the filtrate is coffee grinds and the lid is arrangedto filter out coffee residue from loose ground coffee beans within thebeverage cup.
 8. A lid for a beverage cup comprising: a. a lid body; b.a beverage aperture defined on the lid body through which a beverage canexit the lid for drinking when the lid is on a beverage cup; and c. adrinking rim on the lid which is raised relative to the beverageaperture, wherein the lid is arranged so that, in use for drinking, thebeverage exits through the beverage aperture and flows along the lidtoward the drinking rim so that the user can see the beverage after ithas exited the beverage aperture and before it reaches the rim when thecup is held in a drinking position.
 9. A lid according to claim 8,further comprising a filter associated with the beverage aperture forfiltering the beverage before it is drank.
 10. A lid according to claim8, wherein the lid defines an area in which there are defined at least20 apertures.
 11. A kit comprising: a. a beverage cup; b. an infusiblematerial used in the preparation of the beverage in a closed compartmentwithin the cup; and c. a drink-through lid for the beverage cup the lidhaving a filter to filter out the infusible material from the beverage.12. A kit according to claim 11, wherein the closed compartment isclosed with an airtight tear-off member.
 13. A kit according to claim11, wherein the compartment comprises a tub inserted into the cup.
 14. Akit according to claim 11, wherein the tub is dimensioned to sit in thebottom of the cup.
 15. A kit according to claim 14, wherein the tub hasa tub mouth the periphery of which runs about and abuts the inside wallof the cup.
 16. A kit according to claim 11, further comprising a lid inwhich there are defined at least 20 apertures.
 17. A kit according toclaim 16, wherein the infusible material used in the preparation of abeverage is tea leaf or ground coffee.
 18. (canceled)
 19. A method fordispensation of a beverage comprising the steps of: a. providing abeverage cup; b. providing an infusible material used in the preparationof the beverage in a closed compartment within the cup; c. opening theclosed compartment; d. infusing the material with a liquid to form thebeverage; and e. providing a drink-through lid on the beverage cup, thelid having a filter to filter out the infusible material from thebeverage.
 20. (canceled)
 21. A lid according to claim 1, wherein thereare provided at least 50 apertures defined in the lid.
 22. The method ofclaim 19, wherein the infusible material used in the preparation of abeverage is tea leaf or ground coffee.